2014 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTATION OF POWER, ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION (ICCPEIC)

An Alternative Distributed Control Using Labview

M.Prabhavathy1
Mr.B.Ramesh1
Dr.T.Kalpalatha Reddy Ph.d 1
PG Scholar
Asst. Professor
Professor & Dean(R & D)
ECE Department
ECE Department
ECE Department
Prabha6891@gmail.com
ramesh.mgt@gmail.com
dean.ece@skrenggcollege.com
1
S.K.R Engineering college ,Poonamallee, Chennai,Tamil Nadu.
ABSTRACT --The distributed process control is done
through Distributed control system (DCS). DCS is a
computerized control employed in the industry to
monitor and control the production line . These
industries include Petrochemical industries, Fertilizers
manufacturing industries, oil industries , where it
requires continuous monitoring and controlling. DCS is
one
among
the
Industrial
Control
System
Technique(ICS) , the other ICS techniques includes
supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
system, distributed control system (DCS) and
programmable logic controllers (PLC).The aim of the
proposed project is to analyze process of Reverse
osmosis plant DCS using LabVIEW. The leading
companies in DCS business today are Honeywell,
Rockwell, Yokogawa and
Siemens. The proposed
approach is the distributed control for an industrial
plant using LabVIEW. The mode of operation employed
in the designed VI includes AUTO MODE and
MANUAL MODE. Auto mode are not user interfaced
and the process takes place automatically with the
assigned Manual operation. In addition to that the other
two proposed approach involves the creation of
Database management and Alarm management.

Manual mode. In Auto mode the valve operates

automatically using the Manual mode with the assigned
valve operation done by the operator , operator can monitor
as well as control the valve operation.
In industries lot of process analysis software available like a
MATLAB, LabVIEW etc. LabVIEW offers integration
with hardware and software . It also provides hundreds of
built-in libraries for data visualization and advanced
analysisall
for creating virtual instrumentation[4].The
information for the RO plant is acquired using the Sensors.
It in mandatory to monitor the various parameters of reverse
osmosis plant.Thermostat in case to measure Temperature.
A. Distributed control system
A Distributed Control System (DCS) refers to a
control system which is usually for manufacturing system
[1].Its a kind of dynamic system, in which the controller
elements are distributed throughout the system with each
component sub-system controlled by one or more
controllers. Complex algorithms are programmed into the
DCS to provide accurate control [1].

KEYWORDS : DCS , LabVIEW , IMC , RO , SENSORS .

I . INTRODUCTION
DCS is a very broad term used in a variety of industries, to
monitor and control distributed equipment.DCS systems
have had an exciting development and have made a great
impact on the manufacturing industry, chemical industries,
allowing to automate process control
with multiple
input/output arrangements in real time. The fundamental
advantage is the programming instead of re-wiring to
configure for other new application . They offer greater
reliability, require less maintenance. The leading companies
in the DCS business today are ABB, Emerson ,Honeywell ,
Invensys, Rockwell, Siemens, and Yokogawa.

Fig 1 DCS Panel

B. Working of DCS
The proposed approach is the Process analysis for an
Reverse osmosis
plant
distributed control system
implemented using LABVIEW.The mode of operation for
the plant RO can be designed in two way as Auto mode and

The working of DCS is divided into two parts :

1.Hardware

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2.Software

5) Multiple high level development tools

Field instruments constitute the sensory organs of a process

through which the status of the process known is fed to the
further junction boxes and are updated to the DCS panel
.This flow constitute the hardware flow represented with
blue line [Fig 2] .
Status of inputs from the process through the input cards are
checked ,
outputs then go to the field through
outputcards.This flow constitute the software flow
represented with red line [Fig 2 ] These status been updated
in the DCS as well as the changes are stored for future
reference in the historical document. Any deviations in the
process are then noted and stored.

II . METHODOLOGY
A. RO Process
RO has become a practical separation process to
reduce the salinity levels. this process physically removes
contaminates from water sources like sea water, brackish
water and tertiary treated sewage water.From sewage pond
water passes via a passive screen which removes major
debris. This water is passed through the Roughing filter then
stored in the storage tank is followed by chlorination.
The water is then filtered through dual media filter to
remove fine particles. Dual media filters is formed by the
combination of both clay and sand media. Further from the
dual media filter water is passed through cartridge filters
which is used to retain any fine suspended matter which
may pass through Dual media filter. Finally water passes
through various stages I , stage II , stage III , RO rejects
water overflows from the backwash storage tank into the
effluent sump. Other plant waste streams are collected in
the sump.

Fig 2 Working of DCS

C.

Choice of software

A number of interactive computer-delivered

simulation, control, and scientific visualization software
solutions are available in the market among that LabVIEW
is found to have the following advantages.[2]
LabVIEW has following advantages
1) Graphical user interface
2) Drag-and-drop built in functions
3) Modular design and hierarchical design
4) Works on Multi platforms

Fig 3 RO Flow chart

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2014 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTATION OF POWER, ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION (ICCPEIC)

These Stage I , Stage II , Stage III are the RO membrane

Should be monitored for the constant rate outlet at the
membrane with the help of sensors, these membrane should
be checked at a rapid rate. Few examples of RO membrane
includes Cellulose acetate membranes , Polyamide
membranes.
RO Membrane stuck when suspended solids, microbes and
organic material deposit on the surface of the membrane is
known to be RO Fouling. The best solution is to replace the
membrane in case of RO Fouling[Fig 4].
The controller has been developed based on the model, so it
is named as the Internal Model Based Control.
IMC Scheme
Suppose G(s) is a model of G(s).
By setting C(s) as the inverse of the model:
C(s) = G(s)1
And assuming that
G(s) = G(s)
then the output y(t) will track the reference input yd(t)
perfectly.
Fig 4 RO Membrane

B. Classical scheme Vs IMC scheme

Classical scheme

Fig [5]IMC Example exhibiting Multivariable control shows

the mixing of both Hot water and Cold water and its
measuring of Level and Temperature

Yd(t) is the input to the controller

u(t) is the corrected control signal
u(t) is fed to the system G(s).
Internal Model Controllers
The Internal Model Principle
The Internal Model Control (IMC) philosophy relies on
the Internal Model Principle, which states that control can
be achieved only if the control system encapsulates, either
implicitly or explicitly, of the process to be controlled [3]

Fig 5 IMC Example Exhibiting multi variable control

III . IMPLEMENTATION
A. Software implementation
The method to implement the process analysis of
Reverse osmosis plant in LabVIEW is done using the

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control design simulation module and data logging with

supervisory (DSC) module.
a) Front panel - Similar to displays of DCS ,the operator
can monitor the process and make changes in certain
parameters using instruments in DSC module.
b) Block diagram - Control strategy implements the Logic
to control the process with mathematical functions such as
PID block , IMC block.
c) Icon/Connector pane Represents
available.

input/outputs

LabVIEW front panel serves as a DCS panel and predicts

the flow , pressure ,level ,PH on pc occurs through Data
acquisition.
B. Hardware implementation
Fig 7 RO DCS Panel in LabVIEW

Fig 6 Hardware implementation

Physical measurement such as level , Flow , Temperature ,
pressure is done through the sensor . These derived signals
are Signal conditioned then those analog signals are
converted to digital then in turn displayed in the computer.
I/O Module
Analog input: Thermocouple
Analog output: Control valve
Digital input: Push button , Switch
Digital output: Relay
IV . RESULTS
Fig[7 ] Depicts the DCS panel of Reverse osmosis plant ,
The pump and valve represented in red colour shows the
turn off condition while the green colour in Fig[7] shows the
turn on condition.

Fig 8 RO DCS panel after execution

The browse for the path indicates the Database management

system , holds the database for the operation that has
occurred in the DCS panel .

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Fig 11 IMC controller described in example shows the VI relating both

Temperature and level.
Fig 9 Browse path for creating historical document : front panel

Historical document serves the usage as a historical window

adds the occurred process to the database.
The result of Historical document is shown in fig [10].

The other proposed study of IMC is exhibited using the

various parameter in the same panel .IMC exhibits the multi
variable control.
V .CONCLUSION
DCSs are used to control industrial processes such as
power generation, oil and gas industries, wastewater
treatment and automotive production. DCSs is a control
architecture providing supervisory level of control and
controls multiple integrated sub-systems .
DCS panel for reverse osmosis plant in LABVIEW
provides automation in the process and it can also be
controlled by the user. The process analysis of RO plant can
been successfully analyzed and shown accurately as
depicted in the DCS panel. Model Predictive Control (MPC)
is the major existed advanced process control in chemical
engineering industrial , in such case IMC well exhibits the
multivariable control including the Temperature and level in
the same design.
VI .ACKWOLEDGEMENT
I take this opportunity to thank Dr.T.KALPALATHA
REDDY , Ph.D, Dean(R&D),S.K.R Engineering college
for providing me good infrastructure and encouragement
with regards to the project.

Fig 10 Historical document

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I would like to thank Mr.B.RAMESH , M.Tech ,

Assistant professor, ECE , Deparment , S.K.REngineering
college, for his help throughout my project work .
I am extremely grateful to Mr.ASHOKAN, M.E
Additional manager MFL , for his support and guidance in
the industry.

REFERENCES
[1] Megha Anand S.A., Suprathik Sarkar, Sree Rajendra
DCS in Automation of Process Industries. International
Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced
Engineering (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 6, June
2012)
[2] LabVIEW - Teaching Aid for Process Control Nilima
V Warke Instrumentation Department, V.E.S.I.T, Mumbai,
India , published on ACEEE Int. J. on Control System and
Instrumentation, Vol. 03, No. 02, March 2012
[3] Advances in control techniques and process analysis
with LabVIEW and DCS , NITHYARANI .N & S.
RANGANATHAN Department of Electronics &
Instrumentation Engg, J.J College of Engineering and
Technology, Tiruchirappalli,Tamilnadu, India
[4] What do you know about DCS System? By: A.
Awadhi , www.efarabi.com.
[5] Boiler Level Control Using Labview ,B.Hemalatha,
Dr. A.Vimala Juliet, N.Natarajan , SRM UNIVERSITY ,
2010 , International journal of computer applications.
[6] PC based SCADA system for reverse osmosis
desalination plants , Omar Mohamed Torky, Irraivan
Elamvazuthi and Noor Hazrin Hany Binti Mohd Hanif ,
EEE Department, Universitiy 31750
Tronoh, Perak,
Malaysia, (SCOReD 2009),16-18 Nov. 2009, UPM
Serdang, Malaysia.

Bench using ARM Microcontroller Interfacing in

LabVIEWHare Ram Jha, Akash Priyadarshi, Anamika
Kumari, International Journal of Scientific & Engineering
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[10]Instrumentation

&
Control
Process
Fundamentals 2006 PAControl.com.

Control

[11] IMC-PID Controller Design for Improved Disturbance

Rejection of Time-Delayed Processes
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2077-2091

BIBILIOGRAPHY
Dr.T.Kalpalatha Reddy completed her
B.Tech degree in Electronics and
Communication Engineering from S.V.U
College of Engineering, Tirupathi,
Andhra Pradesh. She obtained her M.E
degree in Applied Electronics from
Dr.M.G.R Engineering College affiliated
to Anna University, Chennai and Doctor of Philosophy in
Information and Communication Engineering from Anna
University,Chennai.
She is working as a Professor & Dean in Department of
Electronics and Communications Engineering,SKR
Engineering College (Affiliated to Anna University,
Chennai), Chennai-25 at present. She has 22 years of
experience in teaching and guiding under graduate and Post
Graduate Engineering students. She has published several
papers in National and International Journals and
Conferences. She is a life member of ISTE and Fellow in
IETE. Her areas of interest are Image Processing, Medical
Imaging, Neural Networks and Pattern Recognition.

[7] .CENTUM CS3000 Operations Training Manual

[8] OPC and Real-Time Systems in LabVIEW , Tutorial
, HANS-PETTER HALVORSEN, 2012.01.11 ,
Telemark University College Department of Electrical
Engineering, Information Technology and Cybernetics .
[9] Electronic Module of Hydraulic Damper Test

B.Ramesh is an Assitant professor working at

S.K.R Engineering college . He has
completed his undergraduate studies at
kalasalingam college of engineering.He has
done his post graduate in Dr. MGR university
.His area of interest is on Microprocessor and
Microcontrollers. He has hands of experience at industries

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2014 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTATION OF POWER, ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION (ICCPEIC)

before teaching and now he is guiding undergraduate and

post graduate engineering students.

M.Prabhavathy is an final year student

pursuing her Masters Degree in VLSI
Design at S.K.R engineering college,
Chennai-25 (Affiliated to Anna University,
Chennai),.She obtained her BE Degree in
Electronics
And
Communication
Engineering from Prathyusha institute of technology and
management , Thiruvallur ,Chennai. She is a Certified
LabVIEW Associate Developer from National Instruments
.Her areas of interest are LabVIEW , Digital signal
processing, Digital electronics.

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